IndyCar to race at COTA (6th Update)

The Circuit of the Americas will be on the 2019 IndyCar schedule.

UPDATE This rumor is now upgraded to 'fact' with today's announcement.

2019 IndyCar Schedule

09/01/18 The 2019 IndyCar schedule will be announced on Tuesday and a race at COTA will be on it, replacing the failed spring Phoenix race. The date is not yet confirmed but our sources say it could be March 24th. We are fairly confident of the majority of the dates shown below.

Rumored 2019 IndyCar Schedule

08/28/18 More confirmed dates below.

08/27/18 2018 Gateway date confirmed below

08/27/18 One option for IndyCar, and perhaps the best option for racing at COTA in the spring in late March, but that gets close to the Texas Motor Speedway NASCAR Cup race March 31st. Our schedule below assumed the COTA IndyCar race would be late March.

08/27/18 An IndyCar race in Austin appears to be edging closer to reality.

The U.S.-based open-wheel circuit, whose cars scream down straightaways at up to 230 mph, is considering Circuit of the Americas for a future race, possibly as early as next year, according to published reports.

COTA Chairman Bobby Epstein’s take? Bring it on.

“It would become one of our crown-jewel events," he told the American-Statesman. “I think it would be special for the series, too, with this city and this track."

Epstein said he had two discussions with IndyCar officials in a recent 10-day stretch.

“We’re super interested," he said. “We’ve had productive conversations. We’re talking to them. It would be exciting to see IndyCar come to Austin.

“They have choices. They have three or four places to fill a hole for next year."

The Phoenix race was scratched from next year’s 17-event calendar for financial reasons.

IndyCar CEO Mark Miles told the Indianapolis Star the series is in talks with three tracks, declining to name them. COTA is widely speculated to be in that mix. There also has been some talk about a street-course race in San Antonio or Oklahoma City.

“We’ll move in earnest to get one of those tracks to fill out the 17th spot," Miles said. “We don’t think it will take too long to complete," indicating a decision could be made as early as Labor Day weekend.

The race would likely be in spring. COTA already is committed to the Pirelli World Challenge sports car series March 1-3 and the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas in a yet-to-be-determined April date.

“It would be tough for this to all come together in time for next season, but don’t rule it out," Epstein said.

What opened the door for the possibility were provisions in a new four-year deal between Texas Motor Speedway and the Verizon IndyCar series. The Fort Worth track will hold a 2019 race for the 23rd consecutive season.

TMS surrendered its territorial exclusivity clause in exchange for a lower sanctioning body fee for the race, according to Gavin Faretra, track media relations manager.

That cleared the way for possible negotiations between COTA and IndyCar.

“The oval race in Fort Worth is a staple for them. But the two tracks are very different, with ours being a road course," Epstein said. “We want to help build the sport and widen our exposure. I see it as a good match."

TMS’ 2019 IndyCar race will be June 8 and again will be paired with the NASCAR truck series.

“This is and always will be ‘America’s Original Nighttime IndyCar Race,’" TMS President Eddie Gossage said. “Photo finishes and victory lane drama have been the standard over the years. No other track has seen as many IndyCar races over the last two-plus decades."

Next year’s TMS schedule is now finalized. The fall truck race moves to the spring NASCAR Cup weekend to create a tripleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The Tony Stewart dirt track event moves from the spring to the fall to complement the Cup and Xfinity playoff races. American Statesman

Rumored 2019 IndyCar Schedule

IndyCar likes racing in front of empty aluminum seats at Texas Motor Speedway

08/10/18 The Verizon IndyCar Series "might come to Circuit of Americas down the road," but COTA Chair Bobby Epstein noted that there are "no plans to make that happen any time soon," according to Kevin Lyttle of the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN.

Motorsports website Paddock Eye reported that IndyCar had "opened talks" with Epstein about holding a race in Austin. The report said that COTA "could take Texas Motor Speedway's place on the IndyCar schedule as early as next year if TMS and IndyCar cannot work out contract differences."

Epstein said that any talks are in the "early stages and he does not expect a race next year." AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN

In Ft. Worth, Drew Davison notes TMS President Eddie Gossage "remains confident that IndyCar will return" to the track in '19.

Gossage: "We're getting closer. We should be finished soon. All is good."

"TMS "would like to finalize a deal before it starts selling" '19 season tickets later this month. Getting something "worked out and having IndyCar stay" in the Ft. Worth market — instead of going to COTA or holding a road race in Oklahoma City — "should be viewed as a win-win situation." Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM